Chapter 6: Child spirit (1)
Bei Shang had to pack up and leave that same day since Nick said his place wasn't in Changsha but in a quiet area around the border of a rural area; so they need to leave early.
Bei Shang heard a soft knock. Nayima entered inside and locked the door behind.
"Sneaky enough?"
"Shhh" Nayima placed a hand over his mouth and shook her head "Don't let him hear us"
" You still don't trust him ?"
" There's something off about him"
"Trust me, if there's any malicious intent, I would feel it since I'm made of malicious energy myself "
" I still don't trust him " She pushed a bag into his arms" Those are my top-secret exorcism materials. It can give you a maximum of 15 mins to escape so use it wisely "
Bei shang opened the bag and looked into it " A quill pen, a robe, and a horse whisk?" He pulled out an empty jug " What is this for?"
" Oh, thanks for reminding me " She grabbed his free hand and used her fingernail to make a sharp slit on his palm; she rubbed the back of his hand when he gasped in pain.
"It's okay sweetheart, I'm done " she grabbed the jug and let the blood fall into it " This should only be used in case of extreme, extreme emergency. Your blood is precious and can attract dangerous spirits okie dokie?"
" Okay …"
"And the jug is full " She closed it and wrap a bandana around his palm. Then she rearranged the bag and took the time herself to hide the materials " Don't let your guard down around him okay?"
"Yes mommy "
Nayima assist them with renting a car, packed Bei Shang's luggage in and before reluctantly saying goodbye. If it was possible to pluck out her eyes and put them in the car to watch them; she would.
As soon as they have gone far enough, Nick looked at him.
"What happened to your hand?"
Bei Shang blinked and looked at his bandaged hand.
"Oh … I accidentally broke something when I was packing and it cut me "
"It looks like a fingernail cut" His voice turned cold "It's Nayima right?"
Bei Shang didn't know why, but at that moment he felt frightened for Nayima.
"It was an accident I swear "
There was a thick silence before Nick let out a sigh and sat upright to start the car.
"We will get some first aid on the way "
The journey was silent and still; Bei shang put a fingernail in his mouth and started to chew in thought.
There was no reason for the sweet and amicable Nick to be angry, but at that moment, Bei Shang can swear that he felt a murderous aura from Nick. It was almost like if he hadn't spoken up, he would find Nayima and clawed her to pieces.
" Bei Shang, do you feel tired ?"
Bei shang snapped out of his thoughts.
" Huh?"
Nick smiled at him; his eyes were bright " I was just asking if you feel tired, we can pull up at the hotel nearby "
Seeing his smile, Bei shang suddenly felt refreshed and he threw that thought out of his mind.
He must have seen wrong.
The hotel was a small building with a cute hello sign, and the walls were painted in cute colors, that rather than a hotel, it looked like a doll house for a little girl.
Bei shang waited for Nick to pack the cars and then he followed him inside. If the outside was dollish, the inside was even more playful. The inside walls were filled with pastel colors and the seats were pink and yellow.
A tired-looking woman was at the reception.
"Welcome to hotel paradise, What room would you like to have?"
"Thank you " Nick gave his usual polite smile " A single room please but with two separate beds "
"A deluxe room then, okay"
While they were speaking, Bei Shang used the opportunity to look around the hotel.
The hotel although it looked cute and welcoming has an eerie feeling to it, it's almost like they are really in a dollhouse and something was watching them.
The hairs on the back of Bei Shang's neck raised and Bei Shang looked to the side. Nick was still talking casually with the owner…
Who just stared at him?
He tightened his fist and looked at the place again, the only absurd thing was the doll lying on the sofa.
But just to be sure, he walked towards the sofa and sat down beside the doll.
"Hello," He whispered "Is anyone there?"
The doll didn't speak, Bei Shang let out a sigh of relief and stood up. At the same time, Nick was also done booking their room.
As soon as Bei Shang turned, the doll's eyes glared with malicious intent.
Their room was upstairs so they have to climb the rickety but painted Yellow stairs. However, before he could put his leg up, Nick grabbed him and pulled him to his chest.
Bei Shang's head swam as he collided with the hard chest.
" What?"
Nick glared at the stairs " There's something under it "
It was only then Bei shang felt a whisper-like strand of malicious intent coming from the stairs. He opened his bag and took out a talisman.
"What do you feel? "
" I don't think it's a small evil spirit " Nick hunched his back as if trying to protect his internal organs " Let's go back"
There was a thick silence before there was an explosion of malicious intent. Nick grabbed Bei Shang and secured him tight as he hit the wall.
The next thing Bei Shang could see was a large form of dark glob striking his claws at them.
Nick smacked it with force and it yelped before jumping back.
He was right, something had been watching them since they stepped into the hotel.
The glob has red jeweled eyes and carnivore teeth. It looked weird as much as it looked scary.
Bei Shang swallowed a gulp " What kind of spirit is it ?"
"A child evil spirit, Seeing its malicious nature and dark body, this isn't the first time it has as been eating mortals and other demons"
"Okay I'll distract it, you attack it and defend me from the side "
Bei Shang was expecting Nick to ask questions but instead, he looked at him and nod his head.
Bei Shang heart started to hurt again and he rubbed it in discomfort.
But he can't be distracted for too long, he opened the bottle of blood, then he started to write a talisman on the robe, He then put on the robe before pouring the rest of the blood on the horse whisk.
"Nick let me go"
There was a hint of reluctance before Nick retracted his fingers , Bei Shang ran out to the front and struck the horse whisk heavily on the glob.
The glob let out a cry and glared at him; then he placed his attack on him.
Bei Shang might not always look like the strongest person but whenever he was in a life-or-death situation, his brain will switch off and all he would do was fight.
Fortunately, he wasn't the only one fighting, wherever there were gaps, Nick was right there to close them.
The fog started to steep into the room and soon Bei Shang can't see anymore. He looked around; his eyes trying to adjust to the lack of vision .
Something knocked off the horse whisk in his hand. Bei Shang did not panic, instead, he pulled off his stained bandana and strung it out like a whip toward the same space.
The whip hit the target and the glob made a harsh noise before hiding again.
He felt a soft palm on his hand and he held it tightly. Instinctively he knew it was Nick; he was probably planning something with his silence.
"Bei Shang, I'm going to throw you towards it; do you know how to make an attack pose?"
"Yes "
" Once I throw you, make an attack pose; I'll ambush it from behind"
"Okay"
"It's coming "
The ground started to rumble and Bei Shang could feel the hair on the back of his neck raising higher and higher.
"One "
There was a shrill noise as if the spirit was gathering its power.
" Two"
The rumbling went louder and towards them.
"Three!"
Like a shot put, Nick threw him toward the spirit and Bei Shang felt his leg strike the soft flesh.
Boom! The blob hit the wall on impact.
Nick appeared at it's side and punched the stomach so hard, it whimpered before it finally stopped moving.
The fog disappeared and the blob started to melt, leaving a six-year-old girl in the middle of its body.
This is the true form of the child spirit.
She had her hair in a messy ponytail and her clothes looked tattered; despite her eyes being bright and malicious, they also looked sunken, her body was also way too rickety and bony for a child and her skin was pale.
Her voice was surprisingly childish instead of shrill " The demon tricked me "
Bei Shang looked around, there was no other demon here except….
Bei Shang looked at Nick, he seemed unbothered by the accusation.
"Thinking you can lie your way out of it is impossible, my partner is not easily tricked" Nick knelt on one foot and grabbed the child's chin " Where's your mother?"
The child suddenly seemed panicked and she tightened her lips.
"If you don't want to talk, I'll beat it out of you " Nick raised his hand as if he was about to strike the child when he heard a soft "wait"; Nick let out a smile before looking towards the door.
The tired receptionist was standing there.